Comments on: Willamette; The Valley of an 8,000 Year Old Culture http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/ Author, Artist, Teacher Thu, 17 May 2012 20:40:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scouting trip to Oregon - Page 3 - City-Data Forum http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-314272 Scouting trip to Oregon - Page 3 - City-Data Forum Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:22:49 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-314272 [...] population referred to it as the valley of sickness. I agree with this. The best I can find is a blog post from UrbanScout (who's a pretty cool guy BTW) about his research into the [...] [...] population referred to it as the valley of sickness. I agree with this. The best I can find is a blog post from UrbanScout (who’s a pretty cool guy BTW) about his research into the [...]

]]> By: kaylee http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-196395 kaylee Thu, 05 May 2011 19:44:52 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-196395 My dad constantly bitched about Portland when we lived there, it was really annoying. But he told me about this, and, it is something I actually do agree with. There are a lot of disgusting sick things there. And if it isn't a physical sickness, it's mental. My dad constantly bitched about Portland when we lived there, it was really annoying. But he told me about this, and, it is something I actually do agree with. There are a lot of disgusting sick things there. And if it isn’t a physical sickness, it’s mental.

]]> By: Erika http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-76792 Erika Mon, 18 Oct 2010 03:59:11 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-76792 Chimene, Indians in NW California watersheds burned (and still burn) for a lot of reasons: to facilitate pastureland (for elk & deer), aid seeding and create basketry shoots, to name a few. Hazel & beargrass are two basketry materials that require periodic burning. Chimene, Indians in NW California watersheds burned (and still burn) for a lot of reasons: to facilitate pastureland (for elk & deer), aid seeding and create basketry shoots, to name a few. Hazel & beargrass are two basketry materials that require periodic burning.

]]> By: Reality Bytes http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-71439 Reality Bytes Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:02:27 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-71439 Maybe the term is meant to describe the local music scene of Portland Oregon, because Portland's music scene most certainly IS a ; VALLEY OF SICKNESS! Maybe the term is meant to describe the local music scene of Portland Oregon, because Portland’s music scene most certainly IS a ;
VALLEY OF SICKNESS!

]]> By: chimene http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-58458 chimene Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:23:10 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-58458 I first heard about "sickness and death" while filing newspaper clippings from Oregon's 1959 Centennial celebration year. I remember my father growing out his beard, pioneer-style, that year (I was 12). Those clippings were also where I learned that, when white men first rode into the lower valley, what they called "buffalo grass" was growing taller than the horses' backs. And that there were practically no trees visible, unlike today, because the Indians regularly burned the valley off. NObody really seems to know why, there's lots of speculation about managing food ecologies, like fall hunting drives. So I guess I'll stop passing that one along, 8-) PS All the Cascade volcanoes I can think of are on the east side of the crest, so would mostly flow east, not west into the valley. OK, info on-line from OSU says there was volcanic flow into the Valley from the Grande Ronde supervolcano -- 13 million years ago And the Missoula floods -- I have just learned from the wiki that the Missoula floods did backwash into the Willamette Valley for about 2000 years, depositing ca. 200 feet of sediment, but the most recent of those is dated about 11,000 BC (13,000 years ago). Indian occupation of the Valley seems to be dated as starting around 8000 BC (10,000 years ago). I first heard about “sickness and death” while filing newspaper clippings from Oregon’s 1959 Centennial celebration year. I remember my father growing out his beard, pioneer-style, that year (I was 12). Those clippings were also where I learned that, when white men first rode into the lower valley, what they called “buffalo grass” was growing taller than the horses’ backs. And that there were practically no trees visible, unlike today, because the Indians regularly burned the valley off. NObody really seems to know why, there’s lots of speculation about managing food ecologies, like fall hunting drives. So I guess I’ll stop passing that one along, 8-)
PS All the Cascade volcanoes I can think of are on the east side of the crest, so would mostly flow east, not west into the valley. OK, info on-line from OSU says there was volcanic flow into the Valley from the Grande Ronde supervolcano — 13 million years ago

And the Missoula floods — I have just learned from the wiki that the Missoula floods did backwash into the Willamette Valley for about 2000 years, depositing ca. 200 feet of sediment, but the most recent of those is dated about 11,000 BC (13,000 years ago). Indian occupation of the Valley seems to be dated as starting around 8000 BC (10,000 years ago).

]]> By: Profile: The Willamette Valley | IB World Student Conference http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-54931 Profile: The Willamette Valley | IB World Student Conference Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:45:39 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-54931 [...] The name Willamette is thought to mean a long, beautiful river or rainwater along the river. From Urban Scout: “…the word Willamette comes from the Clackamas (a subsection of the lower Columbia [...] [...] The name Willamette is thought to mean a long, beautiful river or rainwater along the river. From Urban Scout: “…the word Willamette comes from the Clackamas (a subsection of the lower Columbia [...]

]]> By: Michelle http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-50078 Michelle Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:04:07 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-50078 What about volcanic flows? Missoula foods? Thats what comes to my mind when I hear the old story. What about volcanic flows? Missoula foods? Thats what comes to my mind when I hear the old story.

]]> By: James V. Hillegas http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-48595 James V. Hillegas Fri, 14 May 2010 20:37:05 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-48595 Great post, Urban Scout. For anyone interested, <a href="http://wwwhistoricalthreads.blogspot.com/2010/05/w-wallamat-wolamat-wolamut-willamette.html" rel="nofollow">here's</a> just a little bit more on the origin of "Willamette" that I just posted on my own blog. Great post, Urban Scout. For anyone interested, here’s just a little bit more on the origin of “Willamette” that I just posted on my own blog.

]]> By: Eugene Daily Air Quality Report - Oregon (OR) -Eugene - Springfield metro area - Page 2 - City-Data Forum http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-42380 Eugene Daily Air Quality Report - Oregon (OR) -Eugene - Springfield metro area - Page 2 - City-Data Forum Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:25:15 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-42380 [...] This is best article I can find online about the association of the Willamette Valley with sickness and death. As I suspected, the only explanation is urban legend. [...] [...] This is best article I can find online about the association of the Willamette Valley with sickness and death. As I suspected, the only explanation is urban legend. [...]

]]> By: Urban Scout http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-42068 Urban Scout Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:21:39 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-42068 Actually, the "fact" of the matter is that this area was inhabited year-round. People go up and harvest in the mountains during the summer and hunker down in the valley in the winter. Actually, the “fact” of the matter is that this area was inhabited year-round. People go up and harvest in the mountains during the summer and hunker down in the valley in the winter.

]]> By: ijostl http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-42040 ijostl Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:51:34 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-42040 The fact of the matter is that there were many tribes that lived in the Willamette Valley and they all moved around seasonally prior to being forced onto reservations. During the winters the native peoples left the valley for good reason, the particularly stagnant, damp cold affecting much of the valley. The fact of the matter is that there were many tribes that lived in the Willamette Valley and they all moved around seasonally prior to being forced onto reservations.

During the winters the native peoples left the valley for good reason, the particularly stagnant, damp cold affecting much of the valley.

]]> By: Not Your McFriend Anymore http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-33896 Not Your McFriend Anymore Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:39:59 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-33896 Portland and it's silly myths. So many factoids and myths about the city have turned out to be false. They make for fun bar stories and can be revealing to the city's current character but let's not loose sight of history. There is so much we don't know. I mean we live in a state where no one knows the origin of the name. Tell me what Oregon comes from and means? Portland and it’s silly myths. So many factoids and myths about the city have turned out to be false. They make for fun bar stories and can be revealing to the city’s current character but let’s not loose sight of history. There is so much we don’t know. I mean we live in a state where no one knows the origin of the name. Tell me what Oregon comes from and means?

]]> By: Michael http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-33120 Michael Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:45:05 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-33120 Thanks, Urban Scout, for shedding some light on this myth. I'm glad you finally told it like it is, especially in the last paragraph. Clearcutting forests, eliminating watersheds, and creating false ecosystems not to mention greenhouse gases, will always contribute to sickness and death; add to that the intentional importation of disease, and the only logical conclusion is that the European "settlers" brought the sickness and death to the Willamette Valley. The Chinooks, Clackamas and Kalapuyas lived 8000 years or more in a valley with a beauty we can only imagine! Thanks, Urban Scout, for shedding some light on this myth. I’m glad you finally told it like it is, especially in the last paragraph. Clearcutting forests, eliminating watersheds, and creating false ecosystems not to mention greenhouse gases, will always contribute to sickness and death; add to that the intentional importation of disease, and the only logical conclusion is that the European “settlers” brought the sickness and death to the Willamette Valley. The Chinooks, Clackamas and Kalapuyas lived 8000 years or more in a valley with a beauty we can only imagine!

]]> By: Nakanelua http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-31258 Nakanelua Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:26:23 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-31258 I am a native of the land called O Wai Hi. It translates to Of waters that gush. Or the english hearing ear Land of gushing waters because if you see the Islands from the ocean you can see the waters gushing out of the se cliffs.The world cals this land Hawaii. I am not surprised that the names of this regieon have lost their meaning as well as their "mana". And maybe that is a good thing. If a person has no appriciation for the wealth of a thing or a place, then maybe it is best that they not be able to have it. I just visited this land and I was cptivated by its bounty and wealth. The spings and ponds of Oswego are still garded by water spirits we call Mo'o. And the presence of Io reveals himself in the clouds. Aloha I am a native of the land called O Wai Hi. It translates to Of waters that gush. Or the english hearing ear Land of gushing waters because if you see the Islands from the ocean you can see the waters gushing out of the se cliffs.The world cals this land Hawaii. I am not surprised that the names of this regieon have lost their meaning as well as their “mana”. And maybe that is a good thing. If a person has no appriciation for the wealth of a thing or a place, then maybe it is best that they not be able to have it. I just visited this land and I was cptivated by its bounty and wealth. The spings and ponds of Oswego are still garded by water spirits we call Mo’o. And the presence of Io reveals himself in the clouds. Aloha

]]> By: morgan http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-29476 morgan Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:45:12 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-29476 I too have heard ths tale forever. But last I heard, the reason it got the name was a curse put on the future white inhabitants because when this was a marsh, this is where the massacred Native American's bodies wee dumped. I too have heard ths tale forever. But last I heard, the reason it got the name was a curse put on the future white inhabitants because when this was a marsh, this is where the massacred Native American’s bodies wee dumped.

]]> By: Casey Pons http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-24916 Casey Pons Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:24:34 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-24916 After living in Portland for going on 30 years, I was writing a little travelogue for the people of whence I came, and wanted to find an easy, translation for this most often mispronounced region, only to find the several interpretations above. I can see where they all have some justification in their meaning. I just wish there were some of the native inhabitants still around to sit by the fire listen to the tales, and myths about this valley, it's people and the shadow of impending doom pushing them continually back and out of site and mind. So sad the cause. After living in Portland for going on 30 years, I was writing a little travelogue for the people of whence I came, and wanted to find an easy, translation for this most often mispronounced region, only to find the several interpretations above. I can see where they all have some justification in their meaning. I just wish there were some of the native inhabitants still around to sit by the fire listen to the tales, and myths about this valley, it’s people and the shadow of impending doom pushing them continually back and out of site and mind.
So sad the cause.

]]> By: dan http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-23345 dan Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:53:23 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-23345 I heard that story long ago, it's one of those things that "everyone knows" in Eugene, but I always sensed it was full of crap. One version I heard even claimed that the Indians cursed the valley in revenge for the white man displacing them from it. I think just for fun maybe I will embellish the myth with legends, and actual hero and villain characters, and see if anyone actually believes it. I bet they will. I heard that story long ago, it’s one of those things that “everyone knows” in Eugene, but I always sensed it was full of crap.
One version I heard even claimed that the Indians cursed the valley in revenge for the white man displacing them from it.
I think just for fun maybe I will embellish the myth with legends, and actual hero and villain characters, and see if anyone actually believes it. I bet they will.

]]> By: Eli http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-23262 Eli Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:57:49 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-23262 Derrick rocks he's doing END CIV with Frank Lopez from http://www.submedia.tv I stumbled on your site researching the same thing.. Funny. I live in the South Hills of Eugene and there is definitely no sickness up here. Derrick rocks he’s doing END CIV with Frank Lopez from http://www.submedia.tv I stumbled on your site researching the same thing.. Funny. I live in the South Hills of Eugene and there is definitely no sickness up here.

]]> By: adelle http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-15370 adelle Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:58:30 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-15370 Someone told me the rumor last night. I had to look it up today and came upon your reports. Thanks for doing the hard work. I was so curious if it's true. It feels true. I feel the death and sickness of this region cling to me. It's time to get back to Maui!!!!! I'm a Portland native who's adopted a lighter region.... yeehaw! Someone told me the rumor last night. I had to look it up today and came upon your reports. Thanks for doing the hard work. I was so curious if it’s true. It feels true. I feel the death and sickness of this region cling to me. It’s time to get back to Maui!!!!! I’m a Portland native who’s adopted a lighter region…. yeehaw!

]]> By: jordan fink http://www.urbanscout.org/willamette-the-valley-of-an-8000-year-old-culture/#comment-11637 jordan fink Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:34:58 +0000 http://www.urbanscout.org/?p=70#comment-11637 years ago I spent a week in the PSU library trying to figure this out. I recall that the word's Willama and Multnomah were actually the same and that they come from a root meaning "it spills" referring not to the waterfalls, but to the fact that, before daming of the rivers, the willammette used to black-flow in the winter as the columbia was a bit higher... early settlers discovered this the hard way when their sewage would flow back on to the shore. years ago I spent a week in the PSU library trying to figure this out.
I recall that the word’s Willama and Multnomah were actually the same and that they come from a root meaning “it spills” referring not to the waterfalls, but to the fact that, before daming of the rivers, the willammette used to black-flow in the winter as the columbia was a bit higher…

early settlers discovered this the hard way when their sewage would flow back on to the shore.

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